The demand for solar eclipse safety glasses has been astronomical. If you are not able to score a pair, here are some easy DIY projects that you can make from ready to find materials:

Paper"Take two pieces of cardboard or thick paper. Put a pinhole in one (taking care to make a small, neat hole). Then stand with your back to the Sun, and let the Sun’s light fall through the hole and onto the other sheet. You’ll get a small but distinct image of the Sun. (To get a sharper pinhole, cut a square out of the middle of one card- board, tape a sheet of aluminum foil over the hole and put the pinhole in the foil instead of paper.) The further apart the two pieces of paper, the larger the image of the Sun will be (but it will be a small image in any case)."1

Boxes
Create viewers to see projected images of the moon covering the sun. The longer the box the bigger the image will be.

Mirror
"To project a larger image than a pinhole projector provides, take a hand-mirror or other small mirror, and cover it up. For example, you can use an envelope to make a jacket for it. Cut out a hole the size of a dime (or smaller) in the covering to reveal a small part of the mirror. Now use that small mirror to reflect the light of the Sun onto a light wall or poster paper some distance away. The further away the projected image is from the mirror, the larger it will look. (It’s a little tricky to orient the mirror so that the Sun is shining on it and it reflects the image where you want it to go. It’s best to practice doing this on a day when there is no eclipse.)"1

Colander
"[You] can hold up a colander toward the partially eclipsed Sun, and look in the opposite direction from the Sun for the light and shadow pattern on the ground or a wall. You will see many tiny images of the eclipsed Sun."1

Please remember, looking directly at the sun, even during the phases of an eclipse, can cause permanent eye damage to you AND your pets. Sunglasses are only meant to reduce glare and should NOT be considered protection and pets should be kept inside.

The countdown is on to the “All-American Eclipse.”

On Monday, August 21, 2017, a band of the United States, which stretches from Oregon to South Carolina, will be prime vantage for viewing a total eclipse of the sun. From these locations, the moon will completely block visibility of the sun for approximately 2 minutes. Throughout the rest of the U.S., a partial eclipse will be observable, the percentage of which is determined by location. Here in Atlantic County, we will witness a 76% blockage of the sun which will begin at 1:22 pm, reach maximum obscuration at 2:45 pm, and end at 4:03 pm. Click here for an interactive map of what to expect where and what time.

Please remember, looking directly at the sun can cause permanent eye damage*. This is true even during the phases of an eclipse. Sunglasses are only meant to reduce glare and should NOT be considered protection. The Atlantic County Library System has a limited number of Eclipse Safety Glasses (ISO 12312-2 certified) for distribution at some of our branches on the day of the eclipse (one per person, on a first come first serve basis). As the supply is very limited, please call your local branch for details about the glasses before you go.

*Protect your pets, as well, by keeping them indoors during the eclipse.

You may have noticed the addition of a new blue tab on the side of our webpage? Over there... on the right. Go ahead... click it.

When the slider opens, you will find tutorials for many of the digital media and database services the Atlantic County Library System offers: eBooks and audiobooks, downloadable magazines & music, language lessons, homework help and online reference resources. Plus, you even get practical help on how to open a Gmail account, use social media and discover popular websites. Learn how to get the most out of your library card by watching videos or reading easy-to-follow instructions. Tutorials are vetted nightly and updated as needed. Look for more to be added in the future.

With its streamlined, mobile-friendly interface, the Libby app is perfect for new users. Current users can continue to use the original OverDrive app, which will remain available and supported or they may want to try out the new Libby App as well. Both apps give users access to the same eBook and audiobook titles.

At this time, the Libby app is only compatible with Android and iOS devices. By default, the Libby app automatically downloads digital titles under 20 mb in the OverDrive Read or OverDrive Listen format but users have control over download size, method (WiFi, data or streaming) and format in their Download Settings. Read our OverDrive eBooks & Audiobooks page for more information.

Zinio eMagazines and OneClickdigital may have a new name, and a new look, but our patrons still have access to the same great content.

The Atlantic County Library System's collection of over 70 downloadable magazines is now named RBdigital Magazines. Our 200+ classic titles can be found under RDdigital Audiobooks & eBooks. In addition, mobile device or tablet users can now browse, checkout, download, and read both collections in one place: the RBdigital app.